Hayley O’Keeffe

A church has been accused of ‘dancing on graves’ after putting up a bouncy castle in its ancient cemetery.

Shocked Martin Ramirez, who has only just moved to Tring, was so outraged when he saw the castle in St Peter and St Paul’s churchyard that he complained to officials.

I wouldn’t like someone bouncing on my grave

Martin Ramirez

But the church says that the graves are over 1,000 years old, and bringing the community together for the fun day in May was more important.

Mr Ramirez, said: “I think it’s sacrilegious, and I think is desecrating the memory of the people that have been buried.

“I spoke to someone on the day and he said that Christians should always feel that this is a place to get together and celebrate the lord, I was very disturbed by this response, he said he would even put a pop concert there if he could.”

He added: “It’s just the idea of a bouncy castle, it’s obviously there to attract parents with young children, but I would never let my grandchildren go to it.

“You don’t have to be religious to feel upset that a member of your family could be buried under a bouncy castle. I wouldn’t like someone bouncing on my grave.”

Reverend Jane Banister said that while the church was sorry to have upset Mr Ramirez, no church goers have expressed concerns about the bouncy castle.

She said: “The church does have graves there, but they have been grassed over, the bouncy castle was not placed over any gravestones.

“None of our congregation have any problem with it, as Christians we believe that the bodies we leave behind are not the most important part of us.

“We wouldn’t have done it if we thought that any members of congregation would be upset.”

She added: “The church does some fantastic things and there are people who spent time and effort to do these wonderful things.

“It’s about being active in the church going forward, not just thinking about those who have died in the past.”